Chapter 10: What Eleanor Did Next
Three weeks passed.
Sebastian came to the park twice more.
Once he brought a book about deep-sea fish for Lucas, which Lucas received with the reverence of someone being handed a sacred text.
Once he stayed for dinner — takeout pizza at the kitchen table, the kids arguing about toppings, Sebastian quietly eating whatever ended up in front of him and looking like a man who could not quite believe where he was sitting.
He was careful.
He was patient.
He did not push.
Diane called on a Tuesday morning.
*Eleanor has retained separate counsel,* she said.
*She's contesting the estate review.*
*On what grounds?*
*She's arguing that the foundation was established with Sebastian's full knowledge and consent, and that the document he signed six years ago constitutes informed agreement.*
*He was told it was a routine charitable giving structure.*
*Yes.
Her position is that he had access to independent legal advice and chose not to seek it, and that's his responsibility.* Diane's voice was dry.
*Her attorney sent a letter this morning suggesting that any further legal action on your part constitutes harassment of an elderly woman.*
I set down my coffee cup.
*Harassment.*
*Yes.*
*She brought a lawyer to my hospital room thirty-one hours after emergency surgery.*
*I'm aware.* A pause.
*Hannah, I want you to be prepared for the possibility that Eleanor is going to fight this.
Not because she thinks she'll win.
Because making it expensive and exhausting is itself a strategy.*
*What does Sebastian's attorney say?*
*That she's overplaying her hand.
The foundation documents are problematic enough that any serious review is going to expose them.
She knows that.
This is about delay.*
*What do we do?*
*We don't delay,* Diane said.
*I've scheduled a deposition.
Margaret has agreed to testify.
And I want you to consider whether you're willing to submit the hospital document as evidence in the estate proceeding.*
*Yes,* I said.
*Whatever you need.*
*Good.* She paused.
*There's one more thing.
Eleanor called Sebastian yesterday and told him that if he continues pursuing the estate review, she will cut him out of her personal will entirely.*
I was quiet for a moment.
*What did he say?*
*He told her to do whatever she felt she needed to do.*
I picked up my coffee cup again.
*Okay,* I said.
*Let's not delay.*
---
Eleanor arrived at my building on a Thursday evening.
I hadn't known she was coming.
The doorman called up to say a Mrs.
Carter was in the lobby asking to speak with me.
I thought about it for ten seconds.
*Send her up,* I said.
She looked older than I remembered.
Or perhaps I was just seeing her differently now — without the armor of her own house around her, without a lawyer at her elbow.
She was wearing a good coat and her hair was done and her posture was as correct as ever, but something in her face had shifted.
She stood in my doorway and looked past me at the apartment.
*May I come in?* she said.
*The children are here,* I said.
*We can talk in the hallway.*
She accepted that without argument.
I stepped out and pulled the door mostly closed behind me.
*I want to discuss a resolution,* she said.
*You have attorneys for that.*
*I want to discuss it with you directly.* She met my eyes.
*Woman to woman.*
*All right,* I said.
*Go ahead.*
*I am prepared to acknowledge that the foundation structure should be amended to include Sebastian's children as beneficiaries,* she said.
*In exchange, I would ask that the hospital document not be submitted as evidence in any legal proceeding, and that Margaret's deposition be limited in scope.*
I looked at her.
*You want me to protect you,* I said.
*I want us to reach an agreement that benefits everyone.*
*Eleanor.* I kept my voice quiet.
*You brought a lawyer to my hospital room.
You told your son his children were de@d.
You coordinated with Olivia to intercept every message I sent him for eleven days.
And now you want me to protect your reputation in exchange for giving my children rights they were always legally entitled to.*
Her jaw tightened slightly.
*What would it take?* she said.
*Name it.*
*It's not about what it takes,* I said.
*It's about what's true.
The deposition happens.
The document goes into evidence.
Not because I want to punish you.
Because my children deserve to exist in a legal record that tells the truth about what happened to them.*
*You'll destroy the family.*
*You did that,* I said.
*Five years ago.
In a hospital room.*
She was quiet for a long moment.
*I did what I thought was right for Sebastian,* she said.
It was the first time she had said anything that sounded like it might be true.
*I know,* I said.
*That's the saddest part.*
I went back inside and closed the door.
From the living room, I could hear Ethan explaining something at length to Lucas, who was responding with periodic skeptical sounds.
Sophie was probably drawing.
May you like
I stood in the hallway for a moment.
Then I went to join them.
